Ty Lawson misses 3rd straight game

NEW ORLEANS -- Denver point guard Ty Lawson will miss his third consecutive game with a right heel injury as the Nuggets try to break a franchise record for consecutive victories Monday against the New Orleans Hornets.

Lawson, who has averaged 21.8 points in his last 18 games, was listed as day-to-day, but Nuggets coach George Karl said before the game Lawson would be unavailable. Karl added Wilson Chandler (left shoulder injury) would play after missing the previous two games.

The Hornets were short-handed, too, missing their starting backcourt. Eric Gordon, tied for the team with 16.5 points per game, is out with a sore left ankle. Coach Monty Williams said at the shootaround earlier Monday that point guard Greivis Vasquez would sit out with a sprained left ankle. Vasquez has started all 70 games this year.